Blog.

Keep up to date with the latest news and insights from the Hansford Bell Team.

  • October 31, 2024

    Hansford Bell are providing the headlines of the Autumn Budget announcement.

  • October 3, 2024

    Planning for the end is never easy, but sometimes it can help to look on the positive side of things.

  • October 3, 2024

    In the wake of a new government, the future of personal finance is uncertain. The Prime Minister warns that “things will get worse before they get better”, but that doesn’t mean you have to struggle.

  • September 16, 2024

    Have you ever thought about becoming a financial advisor? This guide will help you understand the steps, qualifications, and main duties involved.

  • September 12, 2024

    In today's challenging housing market, stepping onto the property ladder is increasingly difficult for young people.

  • August 15, 2024

    Planning for retirement? Understand the state pension and the triple lock. Hansford Bell offers expert advice to secure your financial future.

  • August 15, 2024

    Preparing for your child’s financial future can start today. Find out different strategies and methods you can use to support your children as they grow.

  • June 15, 2024

    Simplify your investment journey with Hansford Bell's beginner's guide. Get clear, independent advice on bonds, ISAs, trusts, and more.

  • May 24, 2024

    Life insurance does more than cover funeral costs. It helps your family keep their lifestyle and meet future money needs without your income.

  • May 6, 2024

    Managing money well is key to providing your loved ones a stable and happy life. This guide will introduce you to family financial planning and show how it can help new parents.

  • April 15, 2024

    Meet our team. Generational wealth might sound like it's only for the very rich. But more and more families find it possible when planning well and thinking ahead. This article looks at ...

  • March 21, 2024

    In this blog we’ll outline the six steps to take for a better financial plan to help minimise any financial anxiety you might be having.

  • March 13, 2024

    Later life lending is usually for people who own a home and are older than 55. There are two main kinds of later-life lending: lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans.

  • March 6, 2024

    Learn the ideal savings at every age, how lifestyle and career impact your ability to save, and tips for growing your funds with Hansford Bell's expert advice.

  • February 16, 2024

    When choosing to build an investment portfolio, strategy is a key consideration to be made, as your choice of investment approach can have a huge impact on the long and short-term success or failure of your investments

  • February 16, 2024

    While some may consider estate planning as a last priority and an aspect of their finances that they have time to sort at a later date, the truth is that it’s never too early to make a plan of action regarding your assets.

  • January 22, 2024

    In this article, we will identify what each of the pension changes are and explain why each change matters to you so you can make the most of this new opportunity.

  • January 22, 2024

    In this blog from Hansford Bell, we discuss why the gender pension gap exists, going on to offer some recommendations for women regarding steps that can be taken to mitigate the impact of this on their financial situation

  • December 15, 2023

    Planning for retirement is essential for your future, especially if you’re in the UK. There are many ways to save, but pensions and Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are two of the top choices. Let’s look at what makes pensions and ISAs valuable and determine which could be better.

  • November 28, 2023

    Meet our team. Lifetime mortgages are available to persons aged 55 and over. They release equity from your home, creating a loan against the value of your property that grants you tax-free money ...

  • November 9, 2023

    Creating an investment portfolio can mean putting your money towards a number of sources with varying levels of risk and return. Find out how bonds can help you diversify.

  • November 8, 2023

    In this article from the team here at Hansford Bell, we’ll explain what annuity and income drawdown are, their differences, rates, and determine which is the best option for retirement.

  • October 27, 2023

    Meet our team. Lifetime mortgages are available to persons aged 55 and over. They release equity from your home, creating a loan against the value of your property that grants you tax-free money ...

  • October 27, 2023

    Meet our team. A retirement interest only (RIO) mortgage is available to persons over 55, retirees, and people planning their retirement. It allows homeowners to open up a portion of the equity in ...

  • October 2, 2023

    The time leading up to the end of the tax year is a perfect time to look at your tax profile and make sure you’ve got everything ready, so you go into the next year worry free.

  • October 2, 2023

    In this blog, we’ll explore five effective tips and tricks to help you reduce inheritance tax, ensuring that your loved ones receive more of what you’ve worked so hard to build.

  • September 5, 2023

    In this article, we’ll guide you through the crucial money matters to consider before you go, working out where to move, and necessary expenses to think about.

  • September 5, 2023

    Whether you've had a mortgage before or considering a new one, you may have come across the term ‘negative equity.’ Find out more about what it is, what means for your finances and how you can avoid negative equity.

  • July 9, 2023

    Whether you've had a mortgage before or considering a new one, you may have come across the term ‘negative equity.’ Find out more about what it is, what means for your finances and how you can avoid negative equity.

  • June 29, 2023

    As the economic landscape becomes uncertain, it's crucial to adopt smart financial strategies to protect your money and safeguard your future. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide of top tips to effectively manage your finances

  • June 5, 2023

    Inheritance, no matter how sizeable it is, can be extremely important for anyone’s financial situation.

  • May 22, 2023

    Meet our team. Health problems can have an immense impact on our feeling of security and stability, with some conditions or health issues such as a critical illness causing huge distress and disrupting ...

  • May 22, 2023

    Meet our team. Life Cover, more commonly known as Life Insurance is a type of insurance policy that ensures financial support for your loved ones if you die and are suddenly no longer ...

  • May 22, 2023

    Meet our team. Income protection plans are a type of insurance policy that guarantee financial cover during periods of no income. There are various reasons why you might need income protection, for example, ...

  • April 15, 2023

    Retiring as a self-employed worker can be a daunting task, especially if you do not have a retirement plan in place.

  • March 24, 2023

    If the mere mention of ‘capital gains tax’ makes you want to crawl into a hole and hibernate until tax season is over, fear not! As Independent Financial Advisors, we’ve created this ultimate guide to help you navigate the murky waters of Capital Gains Tax with ease and confidence.

  • March 15, 2023

    Meet our team. An ISA, or Individual Savings Account, is a tax-efficient savings or investment account available to UK residents. It’s a smart and tax-efficient way to save for your future since ...

  • February 14, 2023

    Retiring early is a dream for many of us, but let’s be honest, it can sometimes feel like an unattainable goal. But it doesn't have to be.

  • January 23, 2023

    What is an interest rate? What is a base rate? In this article from Hansford Bell we will explore how the recent rate rises can impact your investments.

  • October 24, 2022

    Working out the best way to pass on your estate is critical to any effective financial life plan. Not only does estate planning maximise the wealth you can pass on, but it also helps to avoid conflict, protect your best interests, and provide the peace of mind you need to live life worry free.

  • October 3, 2022

    Where do you want to go, and how will you get there? These are the questions you need to ask when setting your financial goals. At the heart of financial life planning are the actions that will bring your personal ambitions to fruition. When you start taking a more targeted approach to your money, a world of potential opens up.

  • August 22, 2022

    We can’t control everything that happens in our lives, but we can prepare ourselves for future setbacks. It’s not about being negative; it’s reinforcing optimism for tomorrow with a solid financial plan.

  • June 30, 2022

    Inheritance tax (IHT) is a tax levied at any estate over a certain amount when the owner passes away. However, there are a few things you can do to minimise the charges. With proper planning, you can preserve the maximum wealth possible to pass on to your loved ones.

  • June 15, 2022

    No one wants to think about dying unexpectedly, but preparing for the worst means you can enjoy the present without stressing about the future. What would your death mean for your loved ones financially? Life insurance policies offer the invaluable reassurance that they will still be provided for when you’re not there.

  • May 30, 2022

    Financial planning is a familiar concept to many of us, but what about financial life planning? You might assume it’s the same thing, but actually, this term refers to a distinct approach within the financial services sector.

  • May 15, 2022

    Over time, your pension pot may prove less flexible than you anticipated. Maybe care costs have taken a toll or maybe you want to help out your children with their house deposits. Lifetime mortgages enable older people to access extra tax free cash without giving up their home. Whatever you need the money for, it’s important to understand all the implications before you get started.

  • April 15, 2022

    There are many financial challenges to navigate in later life, from managing retirement income to planning how your estate will be passed on. However, don’t forget that these are also your golden years, and should be enjoyed to the fullest extent. With careful planning, you can manage your specific responsibilities and circumstances and achieve financial and personal fulfilment.

  • March 15, 2022

    Every year, you’ll receive a pension statement detailing the progress of your savings so far. It’s easy to stow this document away and forget about it, but actually, your pension statement contains useful information that should inform your financial planning.

  • February 28, 2022

    Deciding when to retire is an important choice that should not be taken lightly. Though age is often seen as a determining factor, it’s worth considering other things too. From financial health to career satisfaction to family commitments, there are some key lifestyle signs to look out for that may suggest the time has come.

  • February 15, 2022

    For many homeowners, paying off the mortgage is a key financial goal. If you have the savings to do so, overpaying a mortgage can offer numerous benefits, but there are things to consider. Paying off your mortgage is not the only option, and some might prefer to grow their wealth through targeted investments.

  • January 30, 2022

    There are many moments in life when it’s worth getting some financial advice. Whether you’re going through a life transition or just want to take prudent action to protect your future, an independent financial advisor can guide you and help formulate a robust financial plan.

  • January 15, 2022

    A good retirement plan should ensure you can live comfortably until the end of your life. However, if unforeseen events take a toll on your finances, or you need to make an unplanned-for purchase, you could find that your pension pot is no longer big enough. That’s where equity release comes in.

  • November 30, 2021

    If you think retirement is on the horizon, it’s a good idea to start getting your finances in order. Leaving things too late can mean there’s not enough time to adjust your plan and achieve the lifestyle you want. A little financial preparation can mean the difference between a later life that works for you, and a later life that restricts your options.

  • November 15, 2021

    The end of life isn’t something anyone wants to spend much time thinking about, but a lack of preparation can leave your loved ones with a hefty Inheritance Tax bill. Inheritance Tax, intended to redistribute the wealth of the super rich, has become something more and more of us have to deal with as a result of inflation and rising property prices. So, it’s important to get your head around the technicalities before it’s too late!

  • October 30, 2021

    When it’s time to retire, we all want to make sure that we’ve got the right pension provision in place to fund our chosen lifestyle. But with so many different schemes out there, it can be tricky to figure out what’s right for you. Pension drawdown is a way of keeping your pension invested, whilst still accessing your money. That means your wealth will continue to grow whilst you go ahead and enjoy those golden years.

  • October 28, 2021

    There have been a lot of changes at Hansford Bell lately. We’re a firm of Chartered Financial Planners based in Tavistock. For over 20 years, we’ve been shaking up the industry with our refreshing approach to financial planning, but following a management buyout, it was time for a new start.

  • October 15, 2021

    In a 2019 survey*, only 15.1% of respondents said they felt confident planning their retirement goals and choosing where to invest their money. You wouldn’t set off on a long journey without knowing the way, and the same is true when it comes to your finances.

  • October 10, 2021

    When the day came to find a new home for their investment portfolio, this local retired couple knew Hansford Bell were the right choice.

  • September 18, 2021

    We all want to grow our wealth sustainably and with minimal risk, but these days other factors are having a significant impact on investment decisions too.

  • September 1, 2021

    The future of Hansford Bell

  • August 13, 2021

    No work, a regular income, plenty of time to do the things you want – sounds great, doesn’t it? Taking steps to engineer your target lifestyle now can make all the difference when it comes to your financial independence in later life.

  • July 28, 2021

    When it comes to managing your money, choosing the right financial service is key. Knowing your financial planner from your financial advisor will help you decide what qualities to look for and what to expect from the process.

  • June 11, 2020

    Mortgages and Covid-19 - more of your questions answered

  • June 4, 2020

    Covid-19 and Investing

  • May 20, 2020

    Your Mortgage Question's Answered